If you’re evaluating digital signage solutions, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to go with a cloud-based platform or an on-premise system. Five years ago, this was a genuine debate. Today, the industry has largely settled on an answer: cloud-based solutions dominate new deployments across businesses of all sizes.
Here’s a clear-eyed comparison of both approaches and why the shift toward cloud has been so decisive.
In a traditional on-premise setup, the digital signage software runs on a server that you own and maintain — either physically on your premises or in a data center you manage. Content is stored on that server, and player devices connect to it over your local network or VPN.
This approach gives you direct control over the hardware and data. For organizations with strict data residency requirements or air-gapped networks, on-premise may still be the only viable option.
But that control comes with significant responsibilities.
A cloud-based digital signage platform runs entirely on the provider’s infrastructure. You access the management console through a web browser. Content is uploaded to cloud storage. Player devices connect over the internet, download content, and cache it locally for playback.
There’s no server to buy, no software to install on your machines, and no infrastructure to maintain. Everything from content management to device monitoring happens through the browser-based console.
On-premise costs include:
Cloud costs include:
With IntelDisplay, the cloud cost is $5 per display per month on annual billing. Every display gets all features, 5 GB of storage, and full access to the management console. There’s no upfront hardware investment beyond the display and player device themselves.
For a 20-display deployment, that’s $100/month. Compare that to the cost of purchasing, configuring, and maintaining a dedicated server — plus the IT hours to keep it running. For most businesses, the math favors cloud by a wide margin.
On-premise systems require ongoing attention. Server operating systems need security patches. The signage software needs updates, which may require scheduled downtime. Hardware failures (disk crashes, power supply issues) require physical intervention. If the server goes down, every connected display goes dark until it’s restored.
Cloud platforms handle maintenance invisibly. IntelDisplay’s infrastructure is updated continuously without affecting your service. There’s no scheduled downtime for you to manage, no patches to apply, and no hardware to monitor.
The player devices themselves are also low-maintenance. They cache content locally, so playback continues even during internet outages. If a device needs to restart, it auto-launches the player app and resumes playback from the local cache.
Adding displays to an on-premise system means ensuring your server can handle the additional load — more storage, more bandwidth, potentially more powerful hardware. If you expand to a new location, you need to extend your network or set up a new server.
With a cloud platform, adding a display is a five-minute process: install the player app, enter the 6-character registration code in the web console, and assign a playlist. It doesn’t matter if the new display is in the same building or on another continent. The platform scales with your needs without infrastructure changes.
On-premise systems were designed for local networks. Managing displays at a remote location typically requires VPN access, remote desktop connections, or physical visits. For multi-location businesses, this creates logistical headaches.
Cloud-based platforms are inherently remote. You manage every display — regardless of location — from a single web-based dashboard. IntelDisplay’s console shows real-time device status with a 30-second heartbeat, so you always know which screens are online and what content they’re playing.
A common concern about cloud solutions is: “What happens if the internet goes down?” It’s a fair question, and the answer is better than most people expect.
Modern cloud signage players are built for intermittent connectivity. IntelDisplay’s player app caches all content locally on the device. If the internet connection drops, playback continues uninterrupted from the local cache. The player also auto-starts on boot, so a power cycle doesn’t require manual intervention.
The 30-second heartbeat lets administrators know immediately if a device loses connectivity, so the issue can be addressed. But from the viewer’s perspective, the screen keeps playing without interruption.
Compare this to an on-premise server failure, where all connected displays go blank until the server is restored — potentially hours or days if hardware replacement is needed.
On-premise systems offer physical control over data, which some organizations require. However, this also means the organization is fully responsible for security: firewalls, encryption, access control, patching, and physical server security.
Cloud platforms invest heavily in security infrastructure — encrypted communication, secure authentication (IntelDisplay uses JWT-based authentication with separate databases per tenant for data isolation), and continuous monitoring. For most businesses, a reputable cloud provider offers stronger security than a self-managed server.
On-premise isn’t dead. It remains the right choice for:
For everyone else, cloud-based digital signage delivers lower costs, easier management, better scalability, and stronger reliability.
If you’re currently running an on-premise system and considering a move to the cloud, the transition is simpler than you might expect. Reach out to our team to discuss how IntelDisplay can replace your on-premise setup — often with less effort than the next server maintenance window would require.